Learning Along the Way

Our grantees are called upon to lead their organizations, weave networks, and strengthen social movements. These inspiring profiles celebrate their work: the challenges they face and the important lessons they’re learning while they work to make a positive difference.

Maricela Gutiérrez

“This Moment Calls for Us to Step Up.”

SIREN Executive Director Maricela Gutiérrez talks about the stress and uncertainty facing immigrant communities, and the support people need to stay safe and successful.

With anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise following the 2016 elections, Bay Area immigrants began to look for safe havens where they could find solidarity and support. Many ended up contacting SIREN (Services, Immig…

Cristina Jiménez

Advancing the Dream of Dignity for All Immigrants

The co-founder and executive director of United We Dream talks about how to move from fear to power in immigrant communities.

Cristina Jiménez, a 2017 MacArthur Genius Fellow, grew up undocumented as the child of U.S. immigrants from Ecuador. In this video, she reflects on her immigrant experience and the constant fear of losing loved ones…

Nadine Smith

Lessons from Florida’s Defense of LGBT Rights

Equality Florida Co-founder and CEO Nadine Smith talks about the challenges facing the movement, and how her state has achieved pro-LGBT wins in a tough climate.

Nadine Smith is co-founder and CEO of Equality Florida, the state’s largest organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In this video, the Florida native recalls…

Daniel Torres

Director of Immigrant Integration, State of California

The son of Mexican immigrants, Daniel Torres is leading California’s efforts to ensure that the state’s 10 million immigrants are welcome and can find opportunities to thrive.

How does your life experience shape the work you do? The experience of growing up in an immigrant family and community shaped how I see my work. The values that my parents held also informed my view of world. My par…

Jose Antonio Vargas

CEO and Founder, Define American

The Pulitzer Prize-winning founder of Define American and #EmergingUS reflects on the value of curiosity and empathy, and about what it will take to change the politics of immigration.

Where are you from? Manila, Philippines.
What did you eat for breakfast this morning? A hardboiled egg and a Starbucks venti iced coffee with soy milk.
Where do you call home? Los Angeles, where my shoes are,…

Michele Siqueiros

President, Campaign for College Opportunity

Michele Siqueiros on political will, Muhammad Ali and changing the odds for all California students.

What’s something that not many people know about you?
I can rap to Tupac and Dr. Dre without much prompting.
What’s an important lesson you've learned through your work?
One lesson I had to learn through experience…

john a. powell

Director, Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society

john powell on consciousness, living beyond the cognitive space and bringing love into the public discourse.

What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Tea
Where are you from? Detroit
Who are your heroes? My mother, my father, and Nelson Mandela.
What would be a perfect day for you? I like a mix of quiet a…

Meng So

Director, Undocu­mented Student Program at U.C. Berkeley

Meng So works with undocumented students at Cal. He talks about the role of love in his work, the need for authentic voices in social movements, and his (unfulfilled) NBA dreams.

Where are you from? I was born along the Thailand/Cambodia border in a refugee camp and migrated to the Bay Area with my family and parents when I was two.
Where do you call home? Home is my family. It’s a feelin…